Assess molecular residual disease, response dynamics, and emerging resistance using validated longitudinal assays in appropriate disease settings.
Serial molecular monitoring is useful only when the analyte, collection schedule, assay sensitivity, and intended clinical action are established. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and measurable residual disease (MRD) testing serve different purposes across solid and hematologic cancers; their clinical value is indication dependent.
The listed assays are examples, not confirmed available services. Clinical indications, assay validation, and specimen requirements must be checked with the laboratory.
Examples for discussion with an oncologist; test selection must reflect the clinical circumstances of each patient.
The clinical team seeks evidence of molecular disease persistence after treatment.
Use a validated tumor-informed or tumor-naive ctDNA/MRD assay in a clinically supported setting, following the specified sampling interval.
A negative result does not guarantee absence of microscopic disease. Adjuvant treatment should not be changed solely on an unvalidated MRD result.
A treated advanced tumor progresses or shows signs of resistance.
Repeat tissue molecular profiling or plasma ctDNA when appropriate; confirm negative plasma findings in tissue if feasible.
Resistance alterations may guide subsequent testing or treatment eligibility, but their interpretation depends on drug exposure and tumor context.
A patient has a trackable leukemia-associated molecular marker.
Disease-specific quantitative PCR, flow-based MRD, or validated sequencing, following the relevant protocol.
Results must be interpreted against validated sensitivity limits, baseline measurements, and disease-specific response thresholds.
A molecular marker has already been documented and longitudinal dynamics are relevant.
Select an analytically validated patient-specific or marker-specific assay and consistent specimen timing.
Different platforms and specimens may not yield directly comparable measurements.
Each entry specifies the sample, testing goal, and clinical context to avoid confusion.
Detect residual tumor DNA following treatment in relevant settings
Track patient-specific tumor variants longitudinally
Identify acquired resistance changes during progression
Track a specified molecular marker quantitatively
Highly sensitive quantification of a predefined alteration
Assess residual disease by multiparameter flow cytometry
Track validated molecular markers using targeted sequencing
Define the relevant clinical information and expected report components before discussing testing with the scientific team.
Diagnosis, treatments and dates, response measurements, and monitoring objective
Existing molecular marker or prior tumor sequencing results
Sample type, planned time points, and interpretation thresholds
Quantitative results with detection limits, QC metrics, and historical comparison when available
Clear statement of whether findings are detectable or undetectable within assay limits
Guidance on any needed confirmation, retesting, or clinical correlation
• ctDNA can be undetectable despite active disease because tumor shedding and technical sensitivity vary.
• An MRD result should not independently trigger unproven treatment changes.
• Serial measurements require consistent processing, sample timing, and appropriately validated quantification.
Describe the clinical question and available data in the support form; do not send patient identifiers.
